Patient handling device



July 1, 1941. w. e. CLAYTON PATIENT HANDLING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1ENTOR.

Filed May 21, 1940 ATTORNEYS.

July 1, 1941.. w. G. CLAYTON PATIENT HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 21, 19405 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

July 1, 1941, W. CLAYTON 2,247,360

PATIENT HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 21, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 VT. 0 INENORa N D u ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 1, 1941 *fum'rso smrss PATIENT HANDLING D V-ion WilliamGeorge Clayton, Portland, Conn. Application May2l, 1940, Serial No.336,426

3 Claims. (CI. -82) This invention relates to a patient handling device,one of the objects being to provide a simple, compact and efficientdevice of this character designed primarily for use in handling injuredpersons preparatory to being taken to hospitals or other places oftreatment, the device being especially useful ither as a rack or as astretcher on which patients with fractures of the spine, pelvis, neck,limbs, etc., can be transported in a substantially rigid position.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is easy tohandle and can be conveniently stored in an ambulance or otherconveyance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromth spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3----3,

Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view, the fabric body being removed.

Figure 5 is an end elevation showing a patient supported on the boardand covered by the fabric body of the structure.

Figure 6 is an end elevation showing the device ready for use as astretcher.

Figure 7 is an end elevation showing the structure adjusted for use as arack on which the patient is confined.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the structure when usedas a rack and showing means employed for fastening a patient thereto.

Figure 9 is an enlarged section through a portion of one of the bars ofthe device taken on the line 9-9, Figure 3.

Figure 10 is an enlarged section on line l0|ll, Figure 3, said sectionbeing taken through a portion of the structure.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates sidebars preferably rectangular in cross-section and having their endsshaped to provide handles 2. A rounded pad or cushion 3 is mounted oneach of th bars and terminates adjacent to the handle portions 2thereof, each pad or cushion including a covering material of suitablefabric, leather, or the like held distended by a filling of cushioningmaterial. In the drawings the covering has been indicated. at 6 and thecushioning material at 5. Arowof regularly spaced studs or buttons 6 islocated along the outer side of each of the bars I and these are adaptedto be detachably engaged within eyes 1 or I located within opposed sideportions of a body 8 of strong fabric.

Secured to and depending from each on the bars I are regularly spacedspools 9 for the purpose hereinafter explained. Adjacent to the handleportions of each bar are secured bearing blocks ill which are attachedto the bottom faces of the bar and each bearing block has an opening Htherethrough for the reception of a rod E2 on the ends of which aremounted wheels l3. Spacing sleeves M are mounted on each rod adjacent tothe inner sides of the wheels while a pair of spacing collars it arelocated adjacent to but at opposite sides of the center of each rod l2.

There can be used in connection with the parts thus far described, aboard [6 having regularly spaced spools i1 depending therefrom adjacentto the side edges thereof while at points adjacent to the ends of theboard are depending forked brackets [8 arranged in pairs. These bracketsare so positioned and proportioned that when the board is used inconnection with the other parts of the apparatus, the brackets I8 willstraddle the respective rods I2 and the collars IE will be locatedbetween the brackets.

When it is desired to use this device as an ordinary stretcher, thebearing blocks [0 are moved apart along the rods l2 until the fabric orflexible body 8 is taut whereupon said bearings are secured to the rodsby means of set screws l9. Thus by grasping the handles 2 at the ends ofthe bars, a patient can be carried in the usual Way or the structure canbe placed on the ground or a floor and pushed along while supported bythe Wheels l3.

If the nature of the injury is such that the patient should be placed ona hard, unyielding support, the board it can first be positioned on therods I2 as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and after the patient has beenplaced thereon, the body 8 can be brought over the patient and drawntaut so as to provide a cover. This arrangement of parts has beenillustrated in Figure 5.

Should it be found expedient to support the patient without pressurebeing applied to the spinal portion of the body, the bars I could thenbe adjusted toward each other as shown in Figure 7, the patient placedon the cushions or pads 3, and the covering 8 of canvas or the likecould then be placed over the patient and drawn tightly with eyes I inengagement with the studs 6.

Should it be found desirable to fasten the limbs of a patient to thestructure, broad tapes or strips of fabric can be Wound about the limbsand under the bars, I, these being held properly spaced by the spools 9and if, for any reason, it should be found desirable to transport apatient on the board 16 without using the other parts, the patient couldbe fastened on the board by means of tapes or strips of fabric wrappedabout the patient and in engagement with the spools I! on the bottom ofthe board. This arrangement is so obvious that detailed illustrationthereof has not been deemed necessary.

With a patient tied to the bars I as shown for example in Figure 8, itbecomes possible to hold the patient in anerect position, the spoolsserving to prevent the Wrappings from slipping down- Wardl-y' along thebars I. In the drawings the tapes or wrappings have been indicated at W.

What is claimed is:

1. Patient handling apparatus including spaced rods, bars mounted on therods for adjustment toward or from each other, each bar having terminalhandles, a board between the bars and detachably mounted on the rods,and means detachably engaging the bars for holding a patient on theboard.

2. A patient handling device including parallel rods, supporting wheelsthereon, bars connecting the rods and slidable therea'long'toward' orfrom each other, means for holding the bars against sliding movement,and a flexible body bridging the space between the bars and detachablyconnected to said bars, each of said bars having terrninalhandles.

3. A patient handling device including parallel rods, wheels thereon,bars connecting the rods and having terminal handles, said bars beingmountedv for sliding movement along the rods toward or from each other,means for holding the bars against sliding movement upon the rods, a padon ande'Xtendi-ng longitudinally of each of the bars, and a flexiblebody portion supported on the pads and detachably connected at its sidesto the respective bars. 7

WILLIAM GEORGE CLAYTON.

